The Taiwanese magician dazzled the Delhi audience with her ageless artistry during her final season, winning the India Open championship despite losing to Olympic champion Chen Yufei. However, badminton frets about her upcoming retirement after 2024.At the Yonex-Sunrise India Open 2024 semifinal held on Saturday at IG Stadium in New Delhi, Tai Tzu Ying of China defeated Yeo Jia Min of Singapore 21-13, 21-18.
There are athletes who excel at winning. Some sportsmen make it seem good to win. A small few, who are playing off a textbook only they can read, are able to achieve both while raising the bar for the entire sport. The finest example of badminton is Tai Tzu Ying.
After defeating Tzu Ying in the semifinal of the 2023 All England Open, An Se Young, the top-seeded Korean player and future supernova in women’s singles, did an interesting thing. An emerged victorious from three of the best matches of the year, toppled down in celebration, hurried to the net to welcome Tzu Ying, gestured to her red bandana and then to her opponent’s blue bandana, and requested a trade.
There isn’t a finer picture to depict the possible passing of the baton. I thought it was wonderful, so I changed the bandana once. She is a legend to me as a young player, and I have the utmost respect for her. Thus, playing the game is enjoyable,” Se Young said to the Indian Express during the Delhi India Open.
Returning to the India Open after an eight-year absence, Tzu Ying thrilled spectators on Sunday by winning her first championship in India to top off an incredible week. Her excellent play at the end of 2023, when she defeated Se Young and Carolina Marin to win the World Tour Finals, and at the beginning of 2024, when she advanced to the Malaysia Open final, continued.
